BCCI announces revamp of National Cricket Academy

What's the story?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India today announced a plan to revamp the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The Board is said to have already earmarked 40 acres of land for the project, with other infrastructural changes expected to be announced as well.

In case you didn't know...

Established in 2000, the NCA aims to find and train young cricketing talent from all over the country. Located in Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, it was founded by former BCCI President Raj Singh Dungarpur and since then has been headed by a number of eminent cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar among them.

Anil Kumble last headed the NCA in 2014.

The details

This announcement comes quick on the heels of India's Future Tours Program at the ICC being approved by the BCCI general body.

In addition to 40 acres of land being approved for the project, the BCCI has already looked at administrative changes to more effectively run the NCA. Tufan Ghosh, the former CEO of Columbia Asia Hospitals, is said to be coming on board - he resigned from his post at the hospital earlier this year.

While Ghosh will take over as administrative director, the BCCI are also looking for a technical head.

A former cricketer who is now a coach told TOI, "BCCI has to put in some serious work. With adequate knowledge in understanding how some of the global sports academies function - Australia's Centre of Excellence, for instance, he put an array of requirements in perspective: Head coaches in batting, bowling, fielding and other areas; a head for sports science with physiotherapists, doctors and psychologists reporting to the individual; a full-time biomechanist heading a team of data / video analysts; director of coaching education heading a team of zonal coaching heads alongside pushing for online education; a director for zonal academies heading a team of coaches from all zones; a director for development of northeast; a talent scouting team on the lines of the Talent Research Development Wing (TRDW); Youth team head coaches for the junior level. And these are just the basics."

There will be basic changes even to the layout - grounds, pitches, several machines for bowling and pitching and simulators, among other changes.

The administrative head will thus be expected to be a former cricketer, as technical knowledge and experience will be crucial in improving the NCA.

What's next?

Those in the know have suggested that the post is not restricted to an Indian national either. "It doesn't matter if he is an Indian or an Australian. He should be able to lead the team with a sense of focus and direction," said a source.

Author's Take

The NCA has previously liaised with both Cricket Australia and the ECB for advice and in drawing up a structure - so bringing an international face on board will help get a fresh perspective on things and perhaps make it a more all-rounded organisation.

Given the organisation is coming up on 17 years, a total revamp is not only advisable, but a welcomed move given the changing horizons of cricket and the advent of newer formats in the past decade.

With the Indian squad moving to younger, fresher talent by the day, this will surely help in honing some of the country's best cricketing talent.